Story by Ethan
On December 15th, 2025, the arrest of Leighton Jennings, age 35, was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Leighton Jennings was charged with three counts of Sex Trafficking, second-degree Promoting Prostitution, second-degree Strangulation, and two counts of third-degree Rape. The arrest and charges against Leighton Jennings were a result of an investigation handled by Detective Mark Shackel of the NYPD/FBI Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, Detective Kevin Deleon of the NYPD Human Trafficking Squad, Sergeant Kevin Kavanagh and Lieutenant Christopher Zizza of the NYPD Human Trafficking Squad, Lieutenant Amy Morin of the NYPD/FBI Child Exploitation/Human Trafficking Task Force, Inspector Cassandra Whitaker, Executive Officer of SVU, and Inspector Gary Marcus, Commanding Officer of SVU.
According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, the 25-year-old victim met Leighton Jennings in July 2024 in Brooklyn, New York, where she was engaging in prostitution for money while living in a temporary housing shelter. The defendant and victim conversed with one another where the defendant claimed to be able to provide housing, childcare, and other necessities for the victim’s child in exchange for financial proceedings that come from the victim’s profits from engaging in sexual acts for patrons. There was an agreement between the two of them for the victim to surrender between $500 to $1,000 dollars per day through electronic transfers. Instead of the promised housing Leighton Jennings moved the victim into an apartment that he shared with a disabled adult tenant located in the Pomonok Houses. Allegedly the defendant also refused for the victim’s infant to live with them, and routinely would physically abuse the victim. In addition to physical abuse it’s also alleged that Leighton Jennings had raped the victim in her sleep while also taking all profits she made engaging in prostitution at a hotel in Queens, New York from March to May of 2025. On May 31 a verbal argument took place between Leighton Jennings and the victim, the defendant allegedly then wrapped his hands around her neck and strangulated her to the point of her losing consciousness. On June 20th, 2025, the victim was able to file a police report against Leighton Jennings that led to his arrest on July 11th, 2025.
The Queens District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Leighton Jennings are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
